The anterior pituitary harbours five distinct hormone-producing cell types, and their cellular differentiation is a highly regulated and coordinated process. Here we show that ZBTB20 is essential for anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification in mice. In anterior pituitary, ZBTB20 is highly expressed by all the mature endocrine cell types, and to some less extent by somatolactotropes, the precursors of prolactin (PRL)-producing lactotropes. Disruption of Zbtb20 leads to anterior pituitary hypoplasia, hypopituitary dwarfism and a complete loss of mature lactotropes. In ZBTB20-null mice, although lactotrope lineage commitment is normally initiated, somatolactotropes exhibit profound defects in lineage specification and expansion. Furthermore, endogenous ZBTB20 protein binds to Prl promoter, and its knockdown decreases PRL expression and secretion in a lactotrope cell line MMQ. In addition, ZBTB20 overexpression enhances the transcriptional activity of Prl promoter in vitro. In conclusion, our findings point to ZBTB20 as a critical regulator of anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification.

In this study, the herbal compound beverage of Radix astragali (HCBRA) was explored and the immuno-enhancement effects of HCBRA were studied in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy). HCBRA consisted of a water extract of the mixed herbal drugs Radix astragali, Golden-silk jujube, Acanthopanax senticosus fruit, Schisandra chinensis, Glycyrrhiza, Ginger, Peppermint. Compound polysaccharide content calculated as glucose equivalents was 120mg glucose/100mL beverage. The BALB/c mice were gavaged (i.g) once daily with the dosages (2.27, 4.55g, 9.10g raw materials /(kg.bw))of HCBRA for 14 consecutive days, respectively, accompanied by i.p. injection of Cy (80mg/(kg.bw)) at the first three days. The results showed that HCBRA was able to overcome the Cy-induced immunosuppression, significantly increased spleen index and peripheral white blood cell counts, enhanced T cell and B cell proliferation responses, improved splenic nature killer cell activity and peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis. In summary, HCBRA enhanced immunologic functions in vivo. These results offered scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of HCBRA.

The effect of Armillaria mellea on blood lipid levels and oxidative stress in mice fed on high-fat diet was investigated. Animals were allocated to the Armillaria mellea polysaccharides-treatment groups (I, II) and Armillaria mellea oligosaccharides-treatment groups (I, II). All mice were fed with high-fat diet for 40 days but control mice with basic diet. TC, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c were measured by enzymatic and colorimetric methods. The same, MDA,SOD, GSH-PX were measured. Results showed that administration of Armillaria mellea polysaccharides and oligosaccharides significantly increased antioxidant enzymes GSH-Px activities and decreased TC, TG, LDL-c, MDA level in mice (P < 0.05) compared with model group. In conclusion Armillaria mellea polysaccharides and oligosaccharides were able to protect mices antioxidative and improve abnormal blood lipid levels.

Polysaccharides PSIand PSIIwere isolated from liquid-cultured mycelia of Phellinus pini. The average molecular weight: PSI36 kDa, PSII49 kDa; sulfate content: PSI5.25%, PSII0.65%; monosaccharide composition: PSIglucose, galactose and mannitose; PSIIglucose, mannitose and xylose. Anti-tumor activities of PSIand PSII(400 mg/kg·d, i.g.) were investigated in S180-bearing mice. Results indicated that PSIand PSIIsignificantly inhibited the growth of S180-solid tumors. PSIand PSIIeffectively protected immune organs (thymus and spleen) and increased activities of immune cells (NK cells, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes). Results suggest that polysaccharides PSIand PSIIfrom Phellinus pini have potential anti-tumor activities, which might attributed partly to their immunomodulatory properties.

Macroporous resin was the most common method for the separation and purification of steviosides. But the purity was only 90% influenced by less selectivity of the resin. And Rebaudioside A could not be separated from other steviosides at the same time. Purity of total glycosides could be up to 99% and Rebaudioside A could be enriched efficiently by section desorption after one-dimensional chromatography of macroprous resins. The content of Rebaudioside A increased from 39.46% to 63.70% gradually in each desorption solution of the 4 resin columns. Moreover, the resolution between Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside C and stevioside, and the number of theoretical plates for them were detected meanwhile. These results could provide theoretical foundation for the separation of high purity steviosides and enrichment of Rebaudioside A.